Feature Writers

Oilers News

Oilers Rookies bounce Bears 6-3

by
Staff Writer
/ Edmonton Oilers

After five straight losses, the Edmonton Oilers Rookies snapped their slump in a big way on Tuesday night at Clare Drake Arena after disposing of the U of A 6-2 thanks in large part to 16 Golden Bears penalties.

Considering the amount of talent on display up front, with so many chances on the man advantage the Oilers freshmen were bound to capitalize eventually.

Although the U of A were able to keep the game close for most of the opening 40 minutes, Edmonton had a two-man advantage for 1:12 late in the second and scored to take a 3-2 lead. Rob Schremps wrister from the slot was knocked down in front and the puck just trickled past Golden Bears netminder Aaron Sorochan to put the Oilers Rookies in front. Patrick Thoresen provided the screen on the play.

After Edmonton roared out to a 10-3 shot advantage in the first period, shots were even at 23-23 after two.

The Oilers Rookies started to pull away early in the third thanks to a pair of goals by Fredrik Pettersson. First, he pounded a Johansson rebound in past an outstretched Blake Grenier, who had replaced Sorochan in goal to start the period. Seven seconds later, Pettersson scored again as he corralled a pass from Mike Duco and wired it in to make it a 5-2 game.

The U of As penalty parade continued midway through the period. At one point, the Golden Bears had four players in the box at the same time as Edmonton enjoyed a lengthy two-man advantage.

With two penalties still being served, Bodie potted his second of the game to move the Oilers in front 6-2. Tom Gilbert rifled a shot in and Bodie batted home the rebound from the top of the Bears crease.

Mostly due to all the penalties taken by the Golden Bears in period three, shots on goal in the final frame were 20-3 for Edmonton 14 minutes in.

With 1:14 to play, Alberta added their third of the night. A point shot by Tim Krymusa barely trickled through Dubnyks five-hole before rolling across the line for a power play goal.

It took Alexei Mikhnov 11 seconds to get the games first shot on goal. The big Russian picked up the puck along the right side boards and carried it out in front where he flicked it on Bears netminder Aaron Sorochan.

Riley Merkley also had a good chance at the 1:01 mark, taking the puck alone in the slot. He tried to go five-hole but Sorochan shut the door.

20 seconds later, Ben Kilgour broke in alone on Dubnyk and tried to deke around the Oilers goaltender but lost a handle on the puck before he could put it home.

After a lengthy kill, the Oilers Rookies struck for the games first goal.

Stephane Goulet found Troy Bodie streaking toward the net and Bodie slipped the puck behind Sorochan with a neat backhand move to make it a 1-0 game.

Late in the first, Peckham hammered Dylan Stanley into the boards prompting a roar from the crowd.

With Rob Schremp in the box, Dubnyk made a nice toe save on a point shot from Ryan Stempfle late in the period to preserve the Oilers lead.

Mikhnov put on a show during one of his shifts late in the first, carrying the puck on a string. He tried a no-look pass but it was intercepted by the Bears Stanley and taken up ice for an odd-man rush.

Shots after one period were 14-9 in favour of the Oilers.

Early in the second, consecutive Bears penalties gave Edmonton a two-man advantage for 20 seconds. Alberta did a good job killing off the extended power play.

After the penalties ended, the Oilers continued to pour on the pressure and eventually netted their second of the night. On three-on-one, Liam Reddox rang the puck off the post. The rebound then came out front to Jonas Almtorp who deposited it into the open net. The play developed after Tyler Spurgeon turned the puck over at the far blueline to help create the odd-man rush.

Fredrik Johansson and Fredrik Pettersson were one of Edmontons stronger penalty-kill units on the evening. On one particular penalty kill midway through the second, Pettersson almost netted a shorthanded goal. He drove to the net and picked up Johanssons rebound but his backhand attempt went just wide of the net.

While killing a four-minute penalty to Slava Trukhno, the Golden Bears struck for their first of the night. Scott Henkleman slid the puck to Stempfle at the left circle who teed up a one-timer. Dubnyk got his left pad on it but the puck still trickled in.

10:21 into the second, Dubnyk made an unbelievable glove stop on the U of As Tyler Metcalfe. Just when it looked like Metcalfe had an easy goal with a wide-open cage, Dubnyk reached his arm across to make the biggest save of the night on either side.

12 minutes into the middle frame, shots on goal were 10-3 Alberta in the period but each team had traded a goal.

With 2:43 left in the second, the Golden Bears tied the game up at 2-2 with their second power play goal of the night. Henkleman took advantage of a scramble in front of Dubnyk and managed to slip the puck through the legs of the Oilers netminder.

NOTES: During the second intermission, Rob Schremp, U of As Dylan Stanley and Bob Stauffer took part in a shootout for charity. Stanley netted two goals on Globals Dean Millard, Schremp had one and Stauffer was shut out.